Power in the Outer Banks is restored for most of the area. The Salvation Army is feeding residents as they clean-up from the historic storm surge and disaster clean-up crews as they continue working along the coast.

Emotional and spiritual care is also a focus for the Salvation Army teams serving along the Outer Banks. Trained ESC (emotional and spiritual care) caregivers are on the ground in door-to-door ministry on Ocracoke to provide a cold drink and encouraging words to residents as they restore their lives.

During disaster, pre-existing partnerships and relationships are essential to meeting the needs of people who are in the most need. The Salvation Army is working along the Outer Banks in collaboration with the North Carolina Baptist on Mission and the American Red Cross.

Salvation Army officers and staff work long before disaster strikes to begin and maintain these relationships. The Salvation Army will continue to partner with local and state government and agencies as communities continue to assess impacts from the storm.

In response to Hurricane Dorian, The Salvation Army in the Carolinas has provided:

26,289 Meals

32,986 Drinks

10,488 Snacks

Emotional and Spiritual Care to 1,251 people

9,448 hours of employee and volunteer service**Stats as of 9:00 a.m. 9.12.19

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Charlotte, N.C. (September 7, 2019)—Today, Salvation Army mobile feeding units and crews of trained Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers are serving meals, drinks, and providing spiritual care in coastal areas of northeast North Carolina and in the Charleston area of South Carolina. In addition, at the invitation of local emergency management, several Salvation Army mobile feeding units are on standby for service on Okracoke Island, in Hatteras, and Dare County in North Carolina’s Outer Banks where storm surge from Hurricane Dorian caused flash-flooding and stranded many local residents.

Currently, power crews are working around the clock to get power on for approximately 90,000 customers in the Carolinas. No power means people do not have a way to cook and refrigerated food may spoil. The Salvation Army is serving in the community to provide meals to families and individuals who need a hot meal to hold them over until the power has been restored.

The Salvation Army’s mission is to preach the gospel and meet human needs in the name of Jesus Christ. Providing food for people in need is one way The Salvation Army meets its mission worldwide. During a disaster, The Salvation Army uses its long experience of mass feeding to provide nourishment to people before, during, and after the disaster.

We feed before a disaster…
Before the disaster, first responders assembled in Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) to coordinate response and in staging areas to mobilize in communities. Even before Hurricane Dorian impacted the Carolinas, The Salvation Army was serving hot meals and cold drinks in EOCs across both states so emergency management officials could continue their important work.

The Salvation Army also served food to displaced residents compelled to seek shelter before a disaster because they live in vulnerable areas. Through close coordination with local government and disaster service agencies, The Salvation Army was there to meet the immediate needs of evacuees.

We feed after the disaster…
After the disaster, The Salvation is in the community as soon as the roads are clear to provide the physical comfort of a hot meal and a cool drink and the emotional and spiritual comfort that our specially trained caregivers provide. The Salvation Army is there in the community to provide meals to families and individuals so their resources can go toward restoring and rebuilding their lives.

Charlotte, N.C. (September 6, 2019)—Salvation Army commands from the North and South Carolina coastline are assessing the needs in their communities today as the track of Hurricane Dorian continues a path along the North Carolina coastline. Wind, storm surge, rainfall, and the threat of tornados continue as a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for portions of the North Carolina coast.

Currently, power outages across the two states are significant; however, crews are working tirelessly to restore these outages. Three mobile feeding units in Charleston, South Carolina will begin roving through communities to provide food and drinks to people without power. The Salvation Army continues to receive requests from local emergency management partners as the day progresses and unmet needs are realized.

During a disaster, pre-existing partnerships and relationships are essential to meeting the needs of people who are in the most need. Salvation Army officers and staff work long before disaster strikes to begin and maintain these relationships. The Salvation Army will continue to partner with local and state government and agencies as communities continue to assess impacts from the storm.

Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.

Charlotte, N.C. (September 4, 2019)—The North and South Carolina Division of The Salvation Army has increased its readiness level as Hurricane Dorian moves closer to the Carolinas coast. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Hurricane Dorian will continue its track along the southeast coast and may move near or over the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina Thursday through Friday morning, bringing rain, wind, and flash-flooding and dangerous storm surge to the coast and inland.

The Salvation Army of the Carolinas has activated its trained network of disaster staff and volunteers for storm preparation and response. At the request of local emergency management, The Salvation Army is serving meals at EOC operations, evacuation shelters, and other mass feeding locations. In Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, Salvation Army liaisons have been dispatched to the state emergency operations center (EOC) to coordinate with other human services agencies and government partners. An Incident Management Team (IMT) has been activated and is in place at DHQ in Charlotte (Command Center) to coordinate the divisional support to local response operations.

“The Salvation Army is putting its best foot forward to prepare for the impacts of this powerful storm,” said Lt. Colonel Jim Arrowood, divisional commander of The Salvation Army of the Carolinas.”Though the storm is still off of the Carolina coast, our trained officers, disaster services staff, and volunteers are ready to meet the needs of the communities and share the love of Jesus Christ to all.”

After the storm passes, damage reports have been received, and local needs have been determined, Emergency Disaster Services teams will relocate to areas in need and focus primarily on providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals, families, and first responders.

“We are praying for the safety of the people in the path of Hurricane Dorian,” added Lt. Colonel Arrowood. “We will continue to pray as we move into service to care for people. The healing power of our Savior is every bit as important as the physical needs we address.”

Charlotte, N.C. (September 2, 2019)–Preparations for disaster service are being made in the Carolinas as The Salvation Army closely monitors Hurricane DORIAN. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for Coastal Counties in South Carolina, and some Salvation Army units have been requested to provide local support for first responders, emergency management officials, and residents who are in the path of the storm. In Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, Salvation Army liaisons have been dispatched to the state emergency operations center (EOC) to coordinate with other human services agencies and government partners.

The Salvation Army’s partnerships begin well before a disaster. Year-round, The Salvation Army coordinates with community partners and state and local government, planning how to work together to meet the immediate needs of survivors and ensure public safety.

“We are part of the solution,” said Mike Patterson, emergency disaster services director for The Salvation Army of the Carolinas. “One organization cannot do it all, but serving together we can use our strengths to help people when disaster strikes.”

At the local EOC in Beaufort, South Carolina, Salvation Army Captain Wanda Long’s personal mission is to ensure the local emergency management personnel take time to eat. The meals The Salvation Army provides to the local EOC are served buffet style, but she realized early on that some officials could not take time to make a plate.

“They have so many things they need to do, and taking five minutes away to make a plate of food is not possible for many of them. I make a plate for them and bring it to them so they can continue their work,” said Captain Long. “It is a small thing, but if I can take a few minutes to serve them then I’ve been helpful. If they don’t eat, they are going to run out of steam!”

In the days ahead, The Salvation Army all over the Carolinas will remain ready to respond to the immediate needs of the community no matter what path the storm takes. We pray for the people in the Bahamas who were impacted by this devastating storm and for those who are still in DORIAN’s path.

The Salvation Army encourages all residents in both South Carolina and North Carolina to stay informed as their local officials provide guidance. State emergency information is available at www.scemd.org and www.readync.org.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.